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Rick’s on the Square

January 7th, 2011

Tyler Texas Bars and Music VenuesI have to start by saying that Rick’s on the Square was a second choice, a B plan, for a lunch that went wrong.

As I rolled into the only parking space available in the square I was in no mood to be disappointed and left hungry again.

Upon entering Rick’s on the Square I was overwhelmed by the size of the place and the lunch crowd that had made it to a restaurant I had only heard of in passing.

Being led to a table near the outdoor area I was able to see to some degree the luxury that those who were seated there were given.

With fancy tablecloths and elaborate center pieces coupled with the outdoor beauties that only an outdoor space surrounded by walls can offer, I knew I was on the outside looking in.

The restaurant had a kind of jazz club feel to it, but in an area of town where the lunch crowd is a bunch of snoody lawyers talking about their recent boat purchases and the upcoming company retreats it feels a tad out of place.

The decor was really out of place, it was an attempt to look artsy without knowing what artsy looks like. I only had a few minutes to depict the atmosphere before my waitress arrived.

She handed out menus and took drink orders with fewer words than I thought possible. I was content with drinking my ice water and listening to the lawyers as I waited for her to return which took fewer than ten minutes. She took my order and once again disappeared and returned to fill my drink as I wait.

The order didn’t take nearly as long as I thought and the food was exceptional so I sent my comments to the chef via the waitress and I’m sure she probably just told him ‘good’, so that was the best I would get to him.

The bill came back larger than anticipated from a sandwich but was happy to pay it since the food did its job.

I was at Rick’s on the Square during lunch hours so I can’t speak as to how their later hour dining is, but I’ve been told its a social scene for singles in their twenties, and if that’s the case I’m sure I’ll be back there to socialize with the bright young minds of Tyler’s college crowds.

“Best ribs in town”

January 7th, 2011

bourbon west bar and grill tyler texasI was invited to a restaurant recently that claims to have the best ribs in town, I couldn’t find a website for them only a bunch of restaurant reviews.

After reading several positive reviews on St. Louis rib factory I was getting in the barbecue mood so I printed out a Google map and headed out for lunch, located next to the Brookshires dairy downtown made it easy enough to find, although I had found out that they had recently changed their name to Bourbon West Bar and Grill.

I could smell the barbecue seeping from the kitchen so whether or not it would live up to the name of best barbecue in town was irrelevant for the moment.

The parking lot was empty so I made sure to check the sign before going in to make sure they were open. I was well within the allotted time so I entered. On first look it’s a very decent looking restaurant, I would go as far to say that its a little too up scale for a rib joint.

I saw roughly thirty tables all of which were empty, undeterred by the empty appearance and egged on by the delicious smells emitting from the kitchen it took a little over two minutes of not seeing anyone before I started looking around.

They have a decent enough bar and a large private area to host your own parties, if of course you don’t want to be bothered by the crowds of people I was witness to.

Still smelling what must be the best ribs in town I proceeded into the kitchen, just a peek, not enough to be disobeying the employees only sign posted on the door.

The kitchen was alot bigger than was needed to feed the multitudes previously described but once again I failed to locate anyone, one last pass around by the bar to find a man possibly a manager and a waitress/ hostess.

I asked if they were open and the reply was yes, so I seated down by the door and prepared myself to indulge in these best ribs in town.

The menu was plain enough without alot, and prices were decent enough, all be it a little high for lunch, but my hunger knew no price tag at the moment and as quick as I could, I placed an order for an iced tea and some ribs.

At long last the wait was over and I could indulge myself, but wait the waitress returns with a sweet tea and no ribs.

“Sorry but the ribs won’t be ready until 1:30, would you like to order something else or wait?” It was 12:00 at that time so there was no way I was going to wait, so I grabbed my coat rolled down my sleeves and left in search for something to fill the void that Bourbon West Bar and Grill couldn’t fill.

Tyler Texas BarbequeTo learn of how that hunger was satisfied you will have to read the post entitled Rick’s on the Square.

I understand that its more of a dinner restaurant but if its going to be open at lunch it needs to be ready for customers, and if you have the “best ribs in town” you better be ready to prove it to critics.

The facility is nice, the customer service was late, overall it is fairly clean and the food is something that may forever be a mystery to me.

Ate at Pancho Panda today, they have both Mexican and Chinese cuisine and a buffet

January 5th, 2011

Mexican Chinese buffet in Tyler Texas

Pancho Panda
3841 Hwy 64 West
Tyler, TX 75704
Phone: 903-593-9200
Hours of Business:
Monday – Sunday: 11:00am to 9:00pm

I am one of those people that is  little scared of gong into a buffet and if it weren’t for others in my family that enjoy the occasional buffet I would never go.

I think of things like sick people coughing into the food that are in the buffet line and stupid things like that but isn’t that why they have a plexiglass shield guard so that doesn’t happen?

Well Pancho Panda has the plexi glass guard to protect the buffet food and under that glass are both mexican food entrees and chinese food.

Thinking of the combination of Mexican food and Chinese food never wets my appetite but my brother wanted me to try this place out so me and a few other guys went in to give it a shot.

I was surprised to find out that the restaurant wasn’t half bad. The enchiladas, crunchy tacos and quesadillas all tasted pretty good.

I also tried some Chinese food. I got the bourbon chicken, an egg roll, and some fried rice. I was pleased with the Chinese food as well.

cream cheese won tonsFor desert I had some jello squares and cream cheese fried won tons. The fried won tons were ok bu they are the seafood kind. I was hoping it would just have cream cheese in them without the seafood but that is hardly ever the case.

Well anyway this place wasn’t half bad. I am ok with this place and I think if you are a buffet person you will want to give them a try.

Will I go back here by myself? Probably not, I am just not into buffets and probably never will be. When comparing buffets in Tyler Texas though this takes on of the top spots. Take this review for what it is worth coming from someone who normally does not choose a buffet restaurant as a place to eat at.

Little Italy

November 1st, 2010

A small restaurant has been sitting on the side of Broadway for years. Little Italy brings a great taste of Italy to Tyler. They have a long menu of all different pastas, pizzas, calzones and much more. They have some of the greatest bread around. The restaurant has a “bring your own wine” policy. The food is great and the prices make the food even better.

Little Italy has a great lunch menu. You can choose between many different selections of hot pastas. Each of their pastas is hot and pretty delicious. The lunch menu all has the same low price everyday. If you are getting a side dish I always recommend the soups over the salad. The tortellini and cheese soup if one f my favorite soups of all time. Little Italy’s salads is nothing more that some lettuce and a couple tomatoes thrown in a bowl with a small cup of dressing.

If you are looking for a great place to have a big party without having to wait for an hour to get a seat, I recommend that you bring your party to Little Italy. The restaurant never seems to be over crowded or too busy. Some times it seems like it takes a while to get food to come out to you, but still the small Italian restaurant is a great place to have a private and intimate dinner.

Chuy’s in Tyler Texas

October 28th, 2010

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Chuy's opening May 17th Tyler Texas

Elvis Statue at Chuy's in Tyler TX

Chuy's Mexican Food in Tyler TX

Chuy's in Tyler TX

Tyler Texas keeps getting these new and great restaurants coming to town. When will it ever stop? Not that I care for it to stop but it just seems like restaurant overkill.

Chuy’s Tex-Mex Restaurant is one of those Austin Texas restaurants I remember as a kid that had a type of 1980’s flare about it.

Chuy’s opened in downtown Dallas but it didn’t last and was eventually closed. I think they found some better locations in the Dallas area since over by SMU off of I75

Chuys in my mind is better than On the Border but then again I was a kid when I ate there. I never really thought they would one day be in Tyler.

That old Brass Lion building by Lowes and Spring Creek Barbeque will be torn down and Chuys will be built in it’s place. This will give Chuys a prime location in Tyler.

I thought I would slip in this Tyler restaurant coupon discount email list you can join. We send you good solid valuable Tyler restaurant coupons and offers right to your email. Type in your email and click “Submit” and your done!

Chuys in Dallas is kind of a cool hang out place for university students and people with really colorful Cowboy boots. I am not sure what type of crowd it will attract in Tyler.